Episode Details

What happens when no one agrees on who should manage a loved one’s care—or their money? Jill talks with Sara Ecklein, a professional fiduciary in California, to talk about what goes wrong when we don’t plan ahead. From costly legal fights to irreparable family breakdowns, they unpack how a neutral third party can step in before conflict becomes a catastrophe.

They also explore what it means to be a mindful fiduciary, how family dynamics get complicated when siblings are put in charge, and why planning isn’t just about documents; it’s about legacy.

What Jill and Sara discuss:

• What a professional fiduciary actually does (and why it’s more than just “cutting checks”)
• The roles of trustee and agent under a power of attorney, and how they differ
• What it means to be a mindful fiduciary (and how presence, empathy, and neutrality can positively impact a family’s experience)
• The emotional and financial cost of family conflict when no one plans for death or incapacity
• A real-life Michigan guardianship case and what it reveals about court involvement and family discord
• Why naming a sibling as trustee can lead to fractured relationships
• How a trust protector can act as a “watchdog” without being involved in the day-to-day management of a trust
• The difference between a “successful” estate plan on paper vs. in real life
• Planning ahead for your own death, even if you're a professional fiduciary like Sara Ecklein
• The power of legacy, and why estate planning is about how you live, not just what you leave behind

Resources & Links

• Take the Quiz: Could a professional fiduciary prevent your estate plan from becoming a battlefield? www.deathreadiness.com/pro
• Five Wishes: https://fivewishes.org
• Pet Important Information Sheet: Download Here
• Michigan Guardianship Case: In re Guardianship of AMS
• Michigan estate planning attorney: Meaghan Miracle
  • Company: Miracle Law
  • Address: 1850 44th Street SW Wyoming, MI 49519
  • Email: admin@miracleattorney.com
  • Phone: 616-227-0870 
• Watch the video: Do you need a Will?

Learn more about Sara Ecklein:

• Sara’s podcast: The Legacy of Love
• Sara's company: Trust and Honor
• Email: info@trustandhonor.co
• Address: 1484 Pollard Road / Suite 124 Los Gatos, CA 95032
• Phone: 669-280-0110

Connect with Jill:

• Website: DeathReadiness.com
• Email: jill@deathreadiness.com
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This podcast provides estate planning guidance for women and discusses real, practical issues, from caregiving, pre-planning a funeral, how to avoid probate using beneficiary designations, planning for individuals with spe